Help! Beginner Seeking Assistance

BeeDee Mar 2, 2021

  1. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    I don't really have any working DCC links, only because I have been using it for 25 years and the links are gone dead, but there are groups for the different systems out there. I used to follow the NCE DCC Yahoo group, and the JMRI Yahoo group, but those are all defunct now with the end of Yahoo Groups. Here on Trainboard there is a DCC forum that has stuff going back almost 20 years.

    The key thing to remember about Z Scale DCC, is other than the decoder size, it's the same DCC as other scales use. Some people also fear motor damage and lower the DCC voltage by using diodes inline with the DCC track power.
     
    bostonjim likes this.
  2. husafreak

    husafreak TrainBoard Member

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    RickZ if you are in Europe I believe there are a lot of DCC systems in use there. Here in the US most stick with NCE or Digitrax for a "one box" solution. Robert is right though, at the end of the day DCC operation is DCC regardless of scale. Just size and voltage differ. I made a test track with both DC and DCC loops so I could learn them both. I found DC is "set and forget" and DCC is practically a whole other hobby! For me this is because DCC hardware for Z is not plug and play, it needs to be small and is almost always added by the modeler, there are drop in boards for some AZL and MT locos but not many, the market is too small. I have run AZL, MT, Minitrix N, and Marklin HO with my NCE Powercab. The N and HO were single purchases just so I could experience the lager scales. Since I wanted to operate my HO train remotely I use a Roco z21 for that from my iPad, it is a slick solution.
     
    bostonjim likes this.
  3. husafreak

    husafreak TrainBoard Member

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    I should add that I chose the NCE Powercab because that is what the Z scale modelers in my area are using. I figured it would be easier for me to fit in and get advice if I had the same system, and I was right. So as we emerge from the pandemic, and all get our vaccinations, and get together again, your neighbors might help you to choose a system.
     
    bostonjim likes this.
  4. Rick Z

    Rick Z New Member

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